SS Faja de Oro

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image= |image_caption= }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country=Mexico |flag={{shipboxflag|Mexico}} |name=*''Barneson'' (1914–1915) *''Oyleric'' (1915–1937) *''Genoano'' (1937–1941) *''Faja de Oro'' (1941–1942) |ordered= |owner=*Bank Line Ltd (Andrew Weir & Co), Glasgow (1914–1915) *Andrew Weir & Co, Glasgow (1915–1937) *Ditta G.M. Barbagelata, Genoa (1937–1941) *Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), Tampico (1941–1942) |builder= R. W. Hawthorn Leslie & Company, Hebburn-on-Tyne<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/B-Ships/barneson1914.html|title=SS Barneson (1914)|publisher=www.tynebuiltships.co.uk|accessdate=24 May 2017}}</ref> |original_cost= |laid_down= |launched=23 December 1913 |completed=February 1914 |yard_number=462 |acquired= |commissioned= |decommissioned= |in_service= |out_of_service= |operator= |registry={{Flagicon|Mexico|28px}} Tampico (1941–1942) |renamed= |struck= |reinstated= |honours= |captured= |fate= Torpedoed and sunk on 21 May 1942 |identification= |notes= }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |type=Steam tanker |tonnage= {{GRT|6067}} |displacement= |length={{convert|433|ft|5|in|m|1|abbr=on}} |beam={{convert|54|ft|6|in|m|1|abbr=on}} |height= |draught={{convert|32|ft|4|in|m|1|abbr=on}} |depth= |hold_depth= |propulsion=*536 nhp * triple-expansion engine |sail_plan= |complement= |armament= |speed= |notes= |capacity= }} }}

'''SS ''Faja de Oro''''' ("Strip of Gold", which is a petroleum rich area in Mexico) was an oil tanker built in 1914. It sailed for a number of companies, and survived service in the First World War, only to be torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine during the Second World War while sailing under the Mexican flag in the Gulf of Mexico. Its sinking contributed to Mexico's decision to enter the war on the side of the Allies.

''Faja de Oro'' was originally built by R. W. Hawthorn Leslie & Company, Hebburn-on-Tyne as ''Barneson'', for service with Bank Line Ltd (Andrew Weir & Co), of Glasgow. It was taken over by Andrew Weir & Co in 1915 and renamed ''Oyleric''. It was sold in 1937 to the Italian company Ditta G.M. Barbagelata, of Genoa, and was renamed ''Genoano''.<ref name=uboat>{{cite web |url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1690.html |title=Faja de Oro (steam tanker) |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net |accessdate=1 February 2010 }}</ref> it was seized by the Mexican government while docked at Tampico, Tamaulipas, on 8 December 1941 and renamed ''Faja de Oro''.<ref name=uboat/> It was operated by Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), and was homeported in Tampico.<ref name=uboat/>

''Faja de Oro'' was sailing unescorted from Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, back to Tampico in May 1942 under he command of dec. Alm Gustavo Martinez Trejo. It was not carrying any cargo, and was sailing in ballast. It was sighted by the {{GS|U-106|1940|2}}, under Kapitänleutnant Hermann Rasch, and was torpedoed at 04.21 hours on 21 May 1942, while off Key West.<ref name=uboat/> The attack was made despite Mexican neutrality, presumably because the ship's nationality had been indiscernible in the dark. ''Faja de Oro'' was hit in the foreship by one of two torpedoes. ''U-106'' then fired a coup de grâce at 04.33 hours, which missed.<ref name=uboat/> A second was fired 20 minutes later, hitting it amidships and setting it on fire. It sank shortly afterwards with the loss of 10 of its crew. 27 survivors were later rescued.<ref name=uboat/> The attack had been observed by another German submarine, {{GS|U-753||2}}, which had also chased ''Faja de Oro'', but on noticing ''U-106'', had not attempted an attack.<ref name=uboat/>

The sinking of ''Faja de Oro'', coming as it did a week after the sinking of the Mexican tanker {{SS|Potrero del Llano}} on 14 May by Reinhard Suhren's {{GS|U-564||2}} contributed to Mexico's declaration of war on Germany on 1 June 1942.<ref name=uboat/>

==Notes== {{Reflist}}

==References== *{{cite web |url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1690.html |title=Faja de Oro (steam tanker) |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net |accessdate=1 February 2010 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Faja de Oro}} Category:1942 in Mexico Category:Military history of Mexico during World War II Category:Ships of Mexico Category:Shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico Category:Ships sunk by German submarines in World War II Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Caribbean Sea Category:Maritime incidents in May 1942 Category:Oil tankers Category:World War I merchant ships of the United Kingdom Category:Tankers of the United Kingdom Category:World War II merchant ships of Italy Category:1913 ships Category:Ships built by Hawthorn Leslie